SROP Personal Statement Essay

As a young child growing up in the African countries of Cameroon and Gabon, I witnessed diseases such as malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, tetanus, and HIV/AIDS ravage villages and devastate local family members with horrible deaths. This early exposure to such suffering in my life encouraged a strong desire within me to do something useful to battle these horrific diseases. My first introduction to patient care came from voluntary work at local hospitals in Cameroon and in the United States where I worked assisting with patient transportation, providing food and water, and doing necessary tasks needed by each patient. This experience helped me develop good communication skills and medical technical skills in the hospital environment. I also had the responsibility of caring for a family member with a serious brain injury following a car accident. Assisting this family member allowed me to gain awareness of what is required when caring for patients on a day-to-day basis. These experiences allowed me to realize that not only do patients need research to provide cures for diseases, but that the patients already suffering from diseases also need adequate care. As a junior in the molecular biology program, my long-term goal is to dedicate myself to research in the fields of human biology. In order to achieve this goal, I plan to acquire a MD/PhD degree with research focusing on immunology, cardiovascular, or infectious diseases. A MD/PhD degree would enable me to combine my interest in medical patient care with the rewarding challenges of scientific investigation. The SROP program will help me prepare for a MD/PhD program by providing a platform to develop superior problem solving skills, practice research techniques, and conduct my own research project. I am determined to strive for excellence in all that I do and feel that the SROP program will give me essential tools I need to continue my quest in developing a career in the practical and theoretical aspects of the medical research field.